Gripper, perforator, and creaser.



S. vS. MITCHELL. GRlPFfER; 'PERFORAT'0`R, AND CBEASER.

APPLICATION man MA1/.21, |915'.

Patented YMay 2, 1916.

4 4 j 4 v df 1 d'2 4 I l I;

1 j 72 i d i Witnesses GRIPPER, PERFORATOR, AND GREASER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Application led May 21, 1915. Serial No. 29,631.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL S. MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bend, in the county of Pacific and State of lfiashington, have invented a new and useful Gripper, Perforator, and Creaser,

of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to an attachment for printing presses, and is particularly an improvement over the gripper, perforator and creaser disclosed in my Patent No. 1,131,725 issued March 16, 1915.

r1`he object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved attachment for a printing press, and operable for perforating, creasing or scoring the paper when the imprint is made thereon.

As a more speciic object, the invention aims to provide unique means for assembling a movable blade with the frame of the attachment, whereby the blade is normally retracted, and whereby the blade may be projected into perforating or operating po"- sition at the proper time.

Itis also within the scope of the invention to provide a device of the nature indicated having the features above noted, and which at the same time, is comparatively simple, and inexpensive in construction, is compact and non-encumbering, and is Practical and efficient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section of the device, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view illustrating one of the springs and a fragmental portion of the blade. Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a frame or blade holder, which is preferably bent from a bar of rectangular cross section, the bar being doubled to provide a pair of parallel members 1 connected at one end by a loop 2 which may be bolted or otherwise secured to the gripper bar ot a printing press to attach the frame of the present device thereto.

Disposed between the ends of the members 1 are shims 3 which serve to space the members 1 apart properly, and rivets or other securing elements 4 are engaged through the end portions of the members 1 and through the shims 3, to clamp the members 1 together and hold the shims 3 therebetween.

The remote or outer sides of the members 1 are provided with longitudinal grooves or channels 5 extending from the loop 2 to the opposite ends of the members 1, and the grooves 5 are adapted for holding a sheath 6 upon the frame.

The sheath 6 is bent or formed from sheet metal possessing suitable flexibility and rigidity for the purposes, and the sheath 6 embodies a back 7 having angularly projecting flanges 8 overlapping the opposite sides of the members 1, whereby the sheath straddles the frame, and the fianges 8 are provided at their edges with inturned lips 9 engaging the grooves 5 of the members 1. The lips 9 are movable transversely within the grooves 5, whereby the sheath 6 will move transversely relative to the frame, but the lips 9 being located within the grooves 5, limit the lateral motion of the sheath and frame relative to one another, while the rivets or securing elements 4 serve as stops to prevent the longitudinal or endwise movement of the sheath relative to the frame.

The blade 10 is disposed slidably within the slot between the members 1, and as illustrated is provided with a toothed active edge 11 remote from the sheath 6, while the opposite edge of the blade 10 is secured in any suitable manner to the back 7 of the sheath, so that the blade will be carried by the sheath.

The last mentioned edge of the blade 10 is provided with dove-tailed notches 12 which receive the central or cross portions 13 of H-shaped springs 14 which are located between the back 7 of the sheath and the members 1 of the frame. The central or cross portions 13 of the springs 14 are dovetailed and engaged within the notches 12. whereby the said portions of the springs will be secured firmly to the blade and held between the blade and sheath. The springs 14 are applied to the blade 10 before the blade is secured to the sheath. in order that the parts may be readily assembled. The side or -longitudinal portions l5 of the springs 14 are curved to form bowed leaf spring portions at the opposite sides of the blade l0 and the tips or free ends of the portions l5 bear against the members l of the frame while the intermediate portions of the springs bear against the back 7 of the sheath, in order that the sheath 6 will be normally moved away from the frame to thereby retract the active edge of the blade 10 Within the slot of the frame.

In use, the frame of the attachment is secured to the gripper bar or platen frame of the printing press by bolting or otherwise attaching the loop 2 thereto, in order that the present device Will occupy the position of an ordinary gripper, and will also act in the capacity of a gripper for holding the paperl or stock against the platen. The device is so applied that the active edge of the blade l0 projects toward the platen, While the back of the sheath 6 faces the type form, and when the platen is moved toward and against the type form, to make the impression upon the paper or stock, the sheath G vvill be brought against the form, and further pressure upon the device during the completion of the impression, Will cause the frame to move toward the back 7 of the sheath, against the tension of the springs lst, and as a result the active edge of the blade l0 Will be projected from the frame, and will enter the paper or stock to provide the perforations therein. As soon as the platen starts to return to normal position, the pressure upon the present device will be removed, and as a result the springs 14 will again separate the frame and sheath, for retracting the blade, and in this manner the active edge of the blade Will be properly Withdrawn from the paper or stock.

It Will be evident that the present device may be properly located in order that the perforations Will be provided at the point desired upon the paper or stock, and the type form is also provided With proper means for receiving the sheath 6.

In the manner suggested in the aforesaid pending application, the blade l0 may be provided with various forms of active edges, and instead of being toothed, may be provided with a straight sharp edge for cutting a slit or incision in the paper or stock, or the edge of the blade may be so formed as to crease or score the paperor stock, as Will be clearly apparent to those familiar with the art, and reference being had to the said application.

The sheath 6 being IieXible, may be snapped out of engagement from the grooves 5 of the members l of the frame, whereby the parts may be separated for purpose of repair, replacement or cleaning.

I-Iaving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is In a device of the character described, a frame embodying a doubled bar forming a pair of parallel members connected at one end by a loop, the remote sides of said members having longitudinal channels, a blade Working between said members, that edge of the blade opposite the toothed edge having notches, H-shaped springs having their cross portions fitted in said notches, the l'ongitudinal portions of the springs being bowed so that their ends bear` against said members, and a sheath embodying a back secured to said notched edge of the blade to hold the springs assembled therewith, the sheath having flanges projecting angularly from the back and overlapping the remote sides of the said members, and said flanges having inturned lips Working transversely in said 'channels to limit the movement of the sheath and frame relative to one another.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of tivo Witnesses.

' SAMUEL SYLVESTER MITUHELD. lVitnesses F. HAznL'roN, C. L. GRIFFITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.` 

